llafoe Posted April 13, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 13, 2015 I believe there are currently 4 manufacturers of medals... Graco, Ira Green, Officers Equipment and Vanguard. Vanguard appears to be the most prolific. Which one currently produces the best medals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilitaryWired Posted April 13, 2015 Share #2 Posted April 13, 2015 Unless something has changed, Vanguard does not actually make medals or ribbon bars. They don't make metal insignia either (crests and badges). Vanguard is the main customer for several manufacturers & will order hundreds of the more "common" medals at a time. For small medal orders, they might order from Graco, Officer's Equipment, Ira Green or others & just put it in a Vanguard box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
llafoe Posted April 13, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted April 13, 2015 Unless something has changed, Vanguard does not actually make medals or ribbon bars. They don't make metal insignia either (crests and badges). Vanguard is the main customer for several manufacturers & will order hundreds of the more "common" medals at a time. For small medal orders, they might order from Graco, Officer's Equipment, Ira Green or others & just put it in a Vanguard box. Good Info... explains why Vanguard tends to be the most expensive. Are the older Vanguard medals (marked V-21, etc.) also contracted medals or did they actually manufacture them in the past? Most GI Navy medals are/were Graco... Marines OE and Army Ira Green. Graco appears to be a "new" company (Northwest Territorial Mint). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kadet Posted April 15, 2015 Share #4 Posted April 15, 2015 The Vanguard stuff currently sold in the exchange is actually pretty good looking. The OE insignia for the USMC is also nice. I think of Graco and Ira Green as the cut rate makers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ge999 Posted April 15, 2015 Share #5 Posted April 15, 2015 Good Info... explains why Vanguard tends to be the most expensive. Are the older Vanguard medals (marked V-21, etc.) also contracted medals or did they actually manufacture them in the past? Most GI Navy medals are/were Graco... Marines OE and Army Ira Green. Graco appears to be a "new" company (Northwest Territorial Mint). Graco used to be its own company and was bought out by Northwest a year or two ago. Other than the name change there doesn't appear to have been any changes in what they stock/manufacture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted April 16, 2015 Share #6 Posted April 16, 2015 IMHO, they are all garbage. The stampings should have been thrown away long ago and new ones made up. I am pretty embarrassed by the quality of our medals today. They poorly reflect on our respect for honor of service and sacrifice. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BROBS Posted April 16, 2015 Share #7 Posted April 16, 2015 Ski, I agree. when I see modern stuff it all looks fake to me. similar to cheesy items won out of a claw machine or bought in a 25 cent egg. -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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